HOME!

Keoni was home! I got a huge hug and assist to unload my stuffed pony Subaru. And, who came running to the gate...Toby! Lots of loud meows! As soon as Wendy and Aidan got home from their errands, more hugs! And another one from John when he got home, and a plant he stopped to get for me along the way.

Aidan immediately helped me brush up on my soccer skills and he coached me through a soccer lay up that even his friends don't know. What a way to shake off the highway. And, after the high altitudes of the west, I didn't get winded. I must have grown some more red blood cells that Valerie was telling about.

Next, I was treated to a concert of Andrew Lloyd Webber music from Jesus Christ Superstar which is one of my favorites. The boys recorded Keoni playing my piano; then, live, played the violin and cello to go with it. Oh my.

___________

To fill in some missing days...

Friday and Springtime at Jeanenne and Larry's.

From their closed in porch.

Oliver after his zoo trip with Grandma and Granpa.

Harper on Jeanenne's lap.

Grandma, mother, daughter.

Clarence is as big as Toby!

David 'Kinsey and Sarah.

'Kinsey and Grandpa Larry.

...and with Grandma Jeanenne.

Larry, David and Sarah.

Emery arrives.

Harper and Jeanenne.

Rice box. 'Kinsey and Emery.

Good day for sitting in the grass.

...and taking pictures.

It was hard to get back in the saddle and leave this place of abundant love. Yet the road home beckoned and more love awaited at Susie's...

Susie on her back deck.

Who would think that just like last summer on my way to PA that Jackie would again be staying at Susie's the exact same time I was coming through.

And, RAGBRAI Cousin Kathy came over, too, for a welcome visit.

Art Museum...

St. Louis, Susie and Cousin Jackie.

St. Louis, Jackie and me.

Art Hill where, if I remember stories correctly, even our parents sledded in the winter.

Tulips and stainless steel tree.

Tulips everywhere...

Susie serves up another wonderful meal.

We ate outside, the weather remarkable for its friendliness. People were out everywhere in very large numbers taking it all in just as we did enjoying another meal on Susie's deck.

The hard part came again, with home beckoning, and yet the pull of attachment to people in my life that I'd just enjoyed.

Ohio rest stop.

Ohio Dandelions; I see why people once loved them.

My thoughts of friends and family filled my head and miles rolled by. The last stop was hard to find since oil and gas drillers filled the motels for miles and miles of highway. At Wheeling I found myself parked between Halliburton pickup trucks in the parking lot.

As I drew closer to home, again I kept remembering Toby traveling next to me last year on the front seat of the car. This trip he was ahead of me.

Tulips were blooming in front of the house.